Kate Beckinsale, who had just finished filming her scenes for the departed in New York, quickly received an audition invitation from Marvel Studios for the lead female role of Pepper Potts in iron man.
As soon as she thought about whose property Marvel Studios was now, Kate Beckinsale knew it must be Charles Capet's intention.
Meanwhile, Capet Pictures' self-distributed low-budget road comedy, little miss sunshine, saw its theater count rise to 1,600 thanks to strong word-of-mouth.
Its North American box office even reached the 30 million dollar mark. For a no-name film with a budget of only 8 million dollars, such an achievement was absolutely delightful.
However, this year's biggest dark horse was definitely wedding crashers, produced by Capet Pictures. Its current North American box office has already reached 100 million dollars, and it will certainly exceed 200 million dollars by the time it finishes its run.
Starting in August, Capet Pictures will release one film each month. Although they are not blockbusters, mainly art films and genre horror films, it is a good start for Capet Pictures.
Scheduled for release in September was hostel, produced and distributed under the Matrix Pictures label. However, Charles had already crossed the Atlantic Ocean to London.
The acquired Red Bus Film Company had been reorganized into Capet International Pictures UK. Sitting in his office chair, Charles shook his head helplessly at the few remaining staff.
"Independent film companies in the UK must be having a tough time, right?" Charles asked James Tunan, the current head.
James Tunan said with a bitter smile, "Red Bus has been losing an average of 1.8 million pounds annually for the past two years, and the films it participated in producing haven't been very popular."
Charles nodded, "In the future, we will focus primarily on film distribution. Films produced by Capet Pictures are still quite popular."
"little miss sunshine has good word-of-mouth, so we can arrange its release as soon as possible. After that, saw iii and no country for old men, among others, can be scheduled as you see fit."
James Tunan nodded, thinking this would be for the best.
"Actually, there's a British film called The Last King of Scotland that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival recently, which I think is quite good," Charles continued.
James Tunan replied, "That film about former Ugandan President Idi Amin?"
Charles nodded, "Unfortunately, the North American distribution rights belong to Fox Searchlight Pictures!"
"Starring Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy, and directed by Kevin Macdonald, a renowned documentary director," James Tunan seemed quite well-informed.
"The production company is a small one, DNA Films!"
Charles nodded, then instructed, "Actually, one of the reasons I came to the UK this time is to acquire the film adaptation rights for the stage play mamma mia!. Capet Pictures hopes to bring this stage play to the big screen."
"mamma mia! has already toured over 1000 performances, but the story is an 80s family comedy. Is it suitable?" James Tunan was a bit puzzled. Although many film companies hoped to adapt it, they were only thinking of making a profit by relying on the stage play's audience base.
"Judy Cramer, the producer of mamma mia!, won't agree easily."
Charles stood up and walked to the window, explaining with a smile, "You can assure them that Capet Pictures is absolutely serious about the adaptation. We can let Judy Cramer serve as the film producer. That my big fat greek wedding back then was very successful!"
James Tunan also smiled. Charles Capet, who broke into Hollywood and stirred up the industry with my big fat greek wedding, becoming a leader among independent film companies, was already well-known to many.
"I will try my best to persuade Judy Cramer to cooperate with Capet Pictures on the film version of mamma mia!!"
This was the new boss's first task, and James Tunan didn't want to leave a bad impression.
"Hmm, the mamma mia! stage play seems to still be running. You can let Judy Cramer prepare slowly. After all, adapting such a popular stage play into a film requires a lot of preparation," Charles recalled that among successful stage play adaptations, he only remembered the previous my big fat greek wedding and Chicago, followed by mamma mia! and La La Land.
As for the others, they basically all flopped!
In the evening, Charles returned to his hotel, the Wellington Farm Hotel in Westminster.
Because Charles not only brought his two assistants, Donna Williams and Phyllis Jones, but also five bodyguards to ensure his safety.
Only two months had passed since the 7/7 bombings, and Charles couldn't risk his own life.
In the hotel suite, Charles leaned on the sofa, holding Phyllis Jones, while Donna massaged Charles's shoulders.
"Can mamma mia! be popular as a film? It's a fact that musicals are in decline now!"
Phyllis Jones was no longer a novice; she understood what needed to be understood.
Charles stroked the Lady and said with a smile, "When have my eyes ever been wrong? Musicals have indeed declined, but there will always be gold!"
It's just that this made Charles feel a little sorry for Tom Hanks and his wife, because if he remembered correctly, the production company for this mamma mia! musical was supposed to be Tom Hanks and his wife's film production company in the future.
Charles had a hand in my big fat greek wedding, and now he was directly developing mamma mia! himself.
Moreover, he had replaced Tom Hanks's version of the da vinci code with Nicolas Cage's version.
"Boss, have you been following the casting for the new 007? It seems the new James Bond will be announced by the River Thames in the next few days," Donna suddenly said with a smile.
Charles's lips curled up, and he said, "Do I need to pay attention? I can tell you directly that the new choice is Daniel Craig!"
"Daniel Craig? How is that possible? He's blonde and not handsome enough, not tall enough," Phyllis Jones simply didn't believe it.
"Then you'll have to ask Barbara Broccoli, the producer of the 007 series," Charles smiled, then continued,
"Besides, Daniel Craig isn't as bad as you make him out to be, is he?"
"Furthermore, the 007 series has made so many films where the tall and handsome James Bond dates a sexy Bond Girl, leaving a trail of romance while fighting villains. It's no longer fresh."
"But if Daniel Craig plays James Bond, will the moviegoers agree?" Phyllis shook her head, somewhat confused, as the contrast was too great.
"Perhaps. We'll know the result after the new 007 is released next year!" Charles himself coveted the 007 series rights, but that would require acquiring MGM.